The Treat of the Trade

  "Step-moms are by no means trying to take credit for carrying a baby for nine months and taking part in the birthing process. We get it. We are not the Bio-mom. However, we are in a mothering role and we deserve to be recognized." -- Unknown   I don't need anyone to like how I do things, except for these 2 girls right here. I couldn't care less what their moms think of me, what their moms families think of me and what their moms friends think of me. I am pretty fucking amazing without any of their opinions. At the end of the day all that matters is that MY 2 daughters love and respect me. And I have that. Every.Single. Day. With no help from the bio-moms or their families, the girls have learned to love and respect me on their own. Has it been easy for one of them? No! But I can guarantee that she has way more love and respect for me than she does her own mom. The woman that wanted to bring her into this world, now has a daughter being raised by

  At the end of her 4th grade year, almost 2 years ago, her dad told her she was going to play the violin when she went in to the 5th grade. She was NOT happy about it. We rented her violin her first year, just in case her stubbornness won. In 5th grade she was head violinist. Meaning she lead the group and helped tuned others instruments and showed kids the proper way to hold a bow and the violin. She was the first 5th grader in Amarillo to preform a solo for the Greater Southwest Music Festival. Her teacher was on cloud 9 all year at how great Jessie played. Her teacher called me one day to tell me her private lessons have paid off! Confused, I said, this was the first year she's ever picked up a violin. Piano lessons is all she's had. Her teacher was convinced that the piano helped so she wanted us to put her in Preparatory Strings with the Amarillo Youth Symphony the last semester of 5th grade. Fast forward to 6th grade, she has her very own violin and she is i